Master of Nursing Science (Nurse Practitioner)

Description

The concepts of nursing, health and illness are studied with a focus on assessment of health status, identifying health and illness risks and needs, formulating appropriate differential diagnosis based on comprehensive assessment data, establishing mutually acceptable health and treatment plans that maximise outcomes for clients, family and/or the community. Core courses also provide opportunity for students to explore the nurse practitioner's role in investigative (invasive and non-invasive) procedures, identifying and prescribing appropriate pharmacological agents and non-pharmacological interventions, legal and ethical issues pertaining to autonomous and multi-disciplinary practice, furthering the scholarship of nursing practice by defining research questions, participating in and conducting research, and critically evaluating their role as advanced practitioners in the delivery of health care, inclusive of monitoring and ensuring the quality of health care provision.

Project courses provide opportunity for students to negotiate in-depth study in their field of practice to become advanced practitioners and further extend their specialist knowledge, scholarship and leadership in nursing practice.

Requirements

All applicants must be registered nurses holding a current practising certificate in their own State or Territory. Applicants wishing to undertake studies in mental health will need to be registered psychiatric nurses holding a current practising certificate.

Applicants to this program will be required to hold a 108 unit undergraduate degree or diploma and a 36-unit graduate diploma or graduate degree in the specialty field they wish to study or the equivalent of 4 years study at a similar level. Applicants will be expected to be specialist nurses who have been practicing in their speciality field for at least five years.